Staying Inn Sonoma

When we decided to visit wine country, we wanted a place to stay which was centrally located.  We settled on the Inn at Sonoma.  If you are driving, Sonoma will give you easy access to Napa to the east (15 minutes away), as well as Sonoma and North Sonoma Valleys to the north.  If you are planning on staying in Sonoma, there is much to do just walking and biking.

The Sonoma Plaza is less than two blocks away and is not to be missed.  The town hall is in the middle and surrounded by a beautiful eight acre park.  A Farmer's Market is put up every Tuesday evening during Spring and Summer.  There were local bands striking up tunes, grills ablaze, children playing, and people enjoying their favorite wines due to the open container law.  The quality of the fresh produce, especially the tomatoes, reminded us both of visits to France and Italy.  The restaurants were represented by stands serving some staple dishes (we loved Uncle Bill's gourmet corn dogs!), and local artisans were vending olive oil, honey, vinegars, and crafted items. 

The park is surrounded by shops, restaurants, and the Sebastiani Theatre.  We visited most of the shops (wives love to shop), and a few of the restaurants.  Murphy's Irish Pub serves great local beers like Anchor Steam and oysters grilled outside with either BBQ or champagne butter sauces.  The Girl and the Fig serves up seasonal fair accompanied by a French Rhone varietal wine list.  599 Thai Cafe is across the street from the Inn and makes some good fast noodles.  The Sonoma Cheese Factory was full of souvenirs, wines, meats, and cheeses, has an outdoor grill, and makes a great sandwich.  We enjoyed ours with some wine and a nap in the park.

The Inn itself is quaint and homey.  The comfy rooms have enclosed outdoor patios, fireplaces, and wireless internet.  They serve a continental breakfast every morning, and offer cheese and wine in the afternoons along with some chess and boardgames.  The Inn also offers free bicycles, which we used to tour the neighborhood and local wineries. 

If you go to Sonoma try the Inn.  I hope you have as much fun as we did!